Aluminum halide hydrocarbon conversion system



Feb. 19, 1946. I M SUTTON ETAL 2,395,022

ALUMINUM HALDE HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS Feb. 19, 1946. M SUTTON ETAL I 2,395,022

ALUMINUM HALDE HYDROCARBON CONVERSIQN SYSTEMS I Filed March 31, l943 2 Sheets-Shed'I 2 uw A 5 l HoJbfAra/m snsfafrclymf,

falzezazze atented Fehs l, 194@ .amr if: nrnaooaaaon convaasron srs'raM lvaclr Sutton, Hammond, and @ecii W. Nyse wander, Highland, End.,

@il Company, Chicago, lli.,

indiana assignors to Standard a corporation of reputation Mama si, aus, sensi ne. 48u52 is claims (ci. 26o-tsss) This invention relates to catalytic aluminum halide hydrocarbon conversion systems and it pertains more particularly to those parts of such systems which supplement the main catalytic conversion zone.

The conversion system as a whole may be for the purpose of eecting isomerization, alkylation, disproportionation, polymerization, cracking or any other hydrocarbon conversion or treating, but the invention is particularly applicable to systems for producing dimethyl butanes by a liquidphase conversion of hydrocarbons in the presence of a liquid aluminum halide-hydrocarbon complex catalyst (which may contain finely divided solid aluminum chloride) promoted by hydrogen chloride. This liquid phase conversion is preferably carried vout in one or more tower-type reactors andthe product emuent therefrom passes through one or more settlers or guard chambers toL a hydrogen chloride stripper, after which it is neutralized and fractionated. It has been found that under many conditions of operation in such a system there are considerable catalyst losses caused byfcarry-over of aluminum chloride in the eiuent stream.

the system itself by fouling coolers and plugging lines, valves, etc. with what appears to be a solid or pasty mass of aluminum chloride together with various amounts of complex. An object 'of this invention is to avoid such catalyst losses and to prevent the operating dimculties incident thereto.

This catalyst carry-over not only. involves loss of valuable catalyst material but it causes considerable diillculty in the operation of 4 per. The aluminum chloride carry-over in an eiuent product stream may amount to about .2 to about l pound per barrel of stock charged, an average carry-over being about .6 pound perbarrel in the specific example hereinafter described. This is in excess of what would be expected based on solubility data and it indicates that in addition to dissolved aluminum chloride there is a considerable amount of iinely divided aluminum chloride entrained, suspended or otherwise carried in the eiliuent product stream. Whenmake-up catalyst slurry contains excessive amounts of fines e. g. more than about 50% passing a 150 mesh screen, the carry-over is considerably greater than when make-up catalyst ofrelatively uniform particle size is employed, e. g., about l to 150 meshwith less than 50% passing a 150 mesh screen. Avoidance of excessive nes in. make-up aluminum chloride will minimize the carry-over problem but will not eliminate it.

It has been proposed to solve the carry-over y problem by cooling the product eiiluent to sum- A further object is to increase the amount of conversion obtainable from a given amount of catalyst. Another object is to effect a pretreating of charging stock by means of carry-over catalyst, i. e., catalyst dissolved or entrained in a product effluent stream whereby deleterious com ponents of said charging stock may be eliminated therefrom and from the system before the stock enters the main conversion zone. A furtherobject is to minimize corrosion difficulties.

Aluminum chloride is soluble to a considerable extent in light hydrocarbons such as butanes and pentanes and to a lesser extent in such hydrocarbons as hexanes and heptanes'. A liquid product stream consisting essentially of such hydrocarbons therefore tends to dissolve a -certain amount of aluminum chloride in any conversion zone which contains freealuminum .chloride as well as aluminum chloride-hydrocarbon complex. The effluent product'stream from the conversion zone will then carry over such dissolved aluminum chloride to the settler or settlers and stripciently low temperature to precipitate dissolved aluminum chloride as a solid. and then to filter out this solid and redissolve it in charging stock entering the system. The difclculty with such a proposal (aside from the undesirably low ternd peratures that would y precipitated solids quickly plug a filter because of the cementing eiect of complex which is inevitably present. In fact it seems that this cornplex actually deposits on tube walls and flows along with the product euent stream, that solid aluminum chloride particles are picked up by this complex and that it is this phenomenon which causes the problem of valve and line plugging. An object of this invention stream.

In accordance with this invention the carryover problem is solved by new and improved complex-formation and separation steps. After the product eiiiuent stream leaves the mainconversion zone and before it is discharged from the,

be required) is that such is to avoid any attempt to filter aluminum chloride from an eiiiuent virgin light naphtha of about 200 F. end point, which naphtha usually contains large amounts of naphthenes in the upper part of its boiling range. By introducing such a naphtha into the product eilluent stream at a temperature within the approximate range of 100 to 300 F. and preferably at a pressure below 350 pounds per square inch in the presence of hydrogen chloride contained in said stream, the hydrocarbons in said stream will react with dissolved and entrained aluminum chloride to form a readily separable complex.

At the same time the aluminum chloride and the newly formed complex tend to isomerize certain ofthe naphthenes to naphthenes of higher boiling range so that .they can be readily removed from this naphtha by distillation before it is charged to the main isomerization reactor. By introducing such naphtha into the eiiluent product streamv three important functions are accomplished:

(1) Carry-over aluminum chloride i's converted.

into useful and separable form so that it may-be recovered and returned to the main conversion zone,

(2) Line plugging is avoided, and

(3) A naphtha charge is pretreated for con- A verting methyl cyclopentanes to higher boiling naphthenes prior to its fractionation so that excessive amounts of high boiling naphthenes are removed before such naphtha reaches the main conversion zone.

effluent stream.

In one embodiment of the invention the product eiliuent stream aftersuitable reduction of pressure is introduced directly from the conversion zone to the hydrogen chloride stripper and the complex-forming hydrocarbon is introduced into such ellluent stream either before it enters the stripper or while it is passing therethrough. In this case the resulting complex may be separated from the stripped eliluent stream before that stream is scrubbed with caustic and water preparatory to fractionation.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of specific Another example of a complex-forming hy' n drocarbon for. introduction into the eluent product stream is an olefin-containing or aromatic-containing light naphtha, e. g., a light -naphtha produced by thermal or catalytic cracking, reforming, hydroforming, dehydroaromati- 'zation, etc. num chloride in the effluent product stream may react with olens or aromatics in the naphtha to form a complex which is readily removable but which -is not so desirable for eiecting the conversion in the main isomerization reaction zone.

'I'he complex in` this case is therefore preferably withdrawn from the system and it may be used for some other purposev such as olefin polymerization, naphthene isomerization, etc. The oleilns which do not enter into complex formation may be polymerized by the carry-over aluminum chloride or the complex produced therefrom and the resulting polymers may be separated from desired constituents of the isomerization charging stock by simple fractionation. Here again the practice of the invention not only effects an aluminum chloride clean-up in the eilluent product stream but it enables the use of isomerization charging stock which would ruin the isomerization catalyst in the main conversion zone but for its treatment with the carry-over material in theellluent product stream.

Other examples of hydrocarbons for cleaning up the effluent product stream by reaction with dissolved or entrained aluminum chloride may include low boiling4 oleiins, aromatics, alkyl aromatics, etc. Highly viscous oils and polymers however are not so desirable.

To facilitate the removal of the newly formed complex from the efiluent product stream simple settlers may be employed. Due to the tendency for such complexes to deposit as a film on exposed surfaces, particularly eifective separation may be effected by contacting said stream with the large surface areas that are provided by such materials as coke, aluminum or other metal turnings, beds of coarse sand. or any other "pack- In this case the carry-over alumiexamples read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic flow diagram of an aluminum chloride isomerization lsystem illustrating clean-up of product eilluent by complex formation of carry-over aluminum chloride before the ellluent stream reaches the hydrogen chloride stripper and Figure 2 is a similar schematic flow diagram wherein the complex formation is effected, inthe hydrogen chloride stripper itself and wherein complex is separated from stripped products before they are treated with caustic.

Referring to Figure 1, the isomerization feed stock (feed A) from source I0 may. be introduced through line Il to hydrogen chloride absorber I2 which may be operated at a pressure of about 300 pounds per square inch and at a temperature of about 100 F. Recycle gases containing hydrogen chloride are introduced at the base of this absorber through line I3 and make-up hydrogen chloride may be introduced through line I4. Unabso'rbed gases are removed through line I5. 'I'he charging stock, which may contain about 6% of dissolved hydrogen chloride, is withdrawn from the absorber through line I8 and forced by pump I1 through heater i8 into the lower part of tower I9 which may be about l/2 to 3A full of aluminum halide-hydrocarbon complex catalyst material introduced through line 20. This cata lyst material may be formed in situ by aluminum chloride introduced through line 2| and Vmake-up aluminum chloride may be continuously or intermittently introduced through line 2l either as a paste in complex, a slurry in oil or in any other convenient manner during the isomerization reaction. The composition of the catalyst material may be substantially as follows:

l Per cent Hydrocarbon content 15-40 (e. g., 35) Aiuminumchloride content.. 45-80 (e. gl, 55) Ferrie chloride 0-15 (e. g., 10):

Such catalyst compositions -are now well known l in the art and they will require no further dh' scription.

Reactor I9 may be maintained under a pressure of about 850 pounds per square inch.

' other manner through line 28. -withdrawn -from the tower through line 2 9 at maintain the desired quantity of catalyst in the' tower. Catalyst complex settles out of the upwardly flowing' naphtha stream in the upper partici the tower and the eilluent product stream leaves the tower through line 24 and cooler ,25 to the second reactor tower 26 which may be operated at approximately the same pressure and space velocity but at a lower temperature, for-example about 225 F. Complex may be introduced into this tower through line 21 and make-up aluminum chloride may be introduced as a paste inccmplex, a slurry in oil or in any Complex is such a rate as to maintain the desired amount of complex in the tower.

' The -eflluent product stream leaves the top of Atower 26 through lines 30 and 3l to hot settler 32 which may be operated at substantiallyA reaction pressure and temperature, -Suicient settling time is provided in settler 32 to permit the separation of any settleable carry-over compiex material and the withdrawal of `such v settleable material through line 33. The remainingeiiluent product stream` may leave the top of hot settler 32 through lines 34 and 35, cooler 3B, pressure reducing valve 31 to cold settler 38 which may be Operated at a temperature of .about atmospheric to `1001. and under a pressure which is suilciently higher than the pressure in absorber l2 so that separated hydrogen and hydrogen chloride may pass directly through line 33a and line I3'to absorber I2 without the use of any compressor. Additional catalyst material may settle' out of the eiiluent product stream in cold settler 38 and such catalyst material may be withdrawn through line 39 by. pump 40. The euent product stream may now pass through line 4| to stripper 42 which may operate at such pressure that the stripped gases-may be returned through line d3 Ito line i3 and absorber l2 without the use of a compressor. The stripper may be provided with a suitable heating means 44 at its base and it may be operated with a top temperature in the vicinity of 140? F. and a bottom temperaturein the general vicinity of 340 F.

The liquid product stream which is now substantially freed from hydrogen chloride is passed through a caustic wash system 45, a water wash system 35 and is then introduced by line 47 to debuta'nizer tower 48 which is operated under such conditions as to remove substantially all butanes and lighter components through line 49. If desired this tower may also remove pentanes in the overhead stream and the 4pentanes may be subsequently debutanized and separated into the iso and normal components the former being used vas aviation blending stock and the latter recycled for isomerization with incoming charging stock.

The debutanized or depentanizedy stream from the base of tower 48 is passed by line 50 to neohexane fractionator which is operated' under such conditions as to take overhead through line 52 a product rich inlneohexane. This product may also contain diisopropyl, cy clopentane and small amounts ofother hydrocarbons and for some purposes it is desirable clohexanes). together with methyl hexanes, etc.` Y

for it to contain the pentanes since the pentane fraction will consist chiey of isopentane. The neohexane fractionator should be operated so that substantially all of the methyl pentanes and heavier hydrocarbons are withdrawn from the base through line 53 and introduced into naphthene fractionator 54.

The naphthene fractionator separates an overhead stream'boiling chiefly within the range of about 135 to v165" F. which stream is removed through line 55 and recycled to line il for further isomerization. It consists chiefly of methyl pentanes, normal hexane, and naphthenes of approximately the same boiling point. The higherboiling naphthenes, which are chiefly hydroarcmatics' (cyclohexane and methyl cyare withdrawn through line 5B, This stream is an excellent charging stock for the preparation of aromatics such as benzene, toluene and xylene by such well known processes as hydroforming or dehydroaromatization.

The fractionation system hereinabove described is highly schematic and it will, of course, be understood by those skilled in the art that suitable reuxmeans and reboilers will be employed in connection with all towers, that pasty mass. This line plugging diiriculty appar- 'ently arises because of aluminum chloride carrythe order of fractionation may be reversed, 'that the degree or completen'essof fractionation may be carried to any desired extent and that any known fractionation system may -be employed for effecting the desired separation. Since the fractionation per se forms no part of the present invention it will not be described in further detail.

The isomerization system -thus `far described is already known to the art and it is likewise known that the operating conditions may vary through a considerable range. The 'temperatures in-towers i9 and 25 may range from 150 to 350 F., the pressures may range from 500 to 1500 pounds per square inch, space velocities may range from about .4 to 4 volumes of charging stock per volume of catalyst per hour and the amount of hydrogen may range from about 50 to 250 cubic feet per barrel.

The charging stock (feed A) for this operation may be a debutanized light virgin naphtha of about to 200 F. end point, it is substan.

t.ally free from olens and it preferably contains less than 2 or 3% of aromatics. It preferably contains about 5 to 15% of naphthenes vbut more naphthenes can be tolerated because of the naphthene eliminationthrough line 50. The recycled stream introduced through line 55 may constitute the largest component of the charg-v ing stock introduced into towers I9 and'25 and in fact may constitute the only component of said charging stock aswill be hereinafter described.

' In the operation of the isomerlzation ,system thus far described, there is a tendency toward the fouling of coils in cooler 36, a plugging of lines 35 and il and of valve 37. etc. by carry-over" aluminum chloride catalyst materialwhich may range in consistency from a fluent to a solid over in the effluent product stream. The carryover not only'includes aluminum chloride actually dissolved in the eilluent product stream butit includes iinely divided aluminum chloride .which is entrained or suspended in said stream.'

In accordance with this invention dissolved or entrained aluminum chloride in the eilluent product stream is converted into a readily separable liquid complex by introducing a complex-forming hydrocarbon into said eflluent product stream. Such a hydrocarbon may be a light naphtha produced by thermal or catalytic cracking or by the dehydroaromatization or hydroforming of naphtha. It may be a normally liquid olen hydrocarbon or, in fact, any hydrocarbon which will react with carry-over aluminum chloride to form a readily separable liquid complex. The point at which said complex-forming hydrocarbon is introduced into the system and the deposition of the resulting complex will depend to a considerable extent on the type of hydrocarbon introduced.

Assuming that the introduced hdrocarbon is part or all of the main isomerization charging stock (feed A), it may be passed by line- 51 and line 58 either through line 59 to the eilluent product stream in line 24, through line 60 to the eftluent product stream in line 30, through line 6I to the eilluent product stream in line 35 or through line '62 to an eiiiuent product stream which leaves cool settler 38 through line 63 and is introduced by pump 64 and line 65 to packed separating drum 66 or 61.

-It may be desirable to introduce this complexforming hydrocarbon through line 59 when the make-up aluminum chloride is being introduced to the system through line 2| to tower I9 and when no 'make-up aluminum chloride is being introduced from line 28 to tower 26. In this case the incoming charging stock forms separable complex with carry-over catalyst after it leaves the main conversion zone in tower I9 and before it reaches the complex settling system. It there is any appreciable amount of uncombined aluminum chloride in tower 26 and particularly if this.

aluminum chloride is in extremely nely divided form, it may be preferable to introduce the feed stock to the effluent product stream entering hot settler 32 through line 3| although it should be understood that line 60 may lead directly to settler 32. The high temperature prevailing in setbe returned by pump 68 either through line 20 to tower I 9 or through line 21 to tower 26.

High hydrogen pressures tend to retard complex formation and to obtain the maximum clean-up in the hot settler it should be operated at reduced pressure. Thus instead of using pressure reduction valve 31 in line 35 such a valve 68 may be employed in line 30, hydrogen and hydrogen chloride may be withdrawn from the top of the hot settler through lines 34 and 10 and the remaining product eiliuent may leave the hot settler through line 1 I. The carry-over aluminum chloride clean-up in the hot settler may thus be suiliciently complete so that the product eilluentirom line 1| may pass through lines I2 and 4I to the stripper 42 thereby eliminating the use of the cool settler. 4

Alteratively the high temperature settler may be eliminated by introducing the complex-forming hydrocarbon through line 66 to the eilluent product stream in line 30 and then introducing the resulting stream through line 13 directly to line 35. In this case or in the case where the complex-forming hydrocarbon is introduced through line 6| the clean-up will be eiected in cool settler 38 and the resulting complex can be returned through lines 39 and 14 and 33 for introduction by pump 58 'into either tower I9 or 26.

To facilitate the removal of newly formed complex a separating chamber may be provided with suitable packing or with an .inert material of relatively large pore size so that it will not be easily. plugged. Lumps of coke, coarse sand, aluminum 0r other metal turnlngs or` equivalent material may .be used for such packing, such material being defined in the accompanying claims by the expression permeable mass containing large agglomerating surfaces. The complex-forming hydrocarbon may be introduced through line 62 to an eiiiuent product stream entering such a packed settling chamber 66 or h61. The complex will adhere to the exposed surfaces in this settler and will run down said surfaces for removal through lines 15 and 16 or 11 and 18 to line 33, pump 68 and lines 20 or 21 for return to towers I9 or 26. The eluent product stream thus freed irom complex may be passed by line 19 to the hydrogen chloride stripper l 42. While separate packed towers 66 and 61 are illustrated in the drawings it should be understood that such packing material may be used instead in settlers 32 or 38. A plurality of such packed towers is preferably em ployed so that one may be washed free of complex while another is on-stream when the complex run-off is not sumciently rapid to make the washing step unnecessary. The wash liquid may be charging stock and it may be introduced directly into tower I9 or tower 26. To avoid unduly complicating the drawings such wash lines have not been shown.,

When the complex-forming hydrocarbon contains olens or other components which might result in the formation of a complex which is undesirable in towers I9 or 26, it may be introduced through line 58 and throughbranched lines 60, 6| or 62. In this case the resulting complex should be discarded from the system although it may be used in another system for polymerizing olens, isomerizing naphthenes or other treatment` of hydrocarbons. If the olefmic complexforming'hydrocarbon is introduced through line 60 then the complex withdrawn through line 33 should be discarded through line v8|). By introducing such olenic complex-forming hydrocarbon through line 6I the complex from line 33 may be returned to towers I9 or 26 and the newly formed complex can be discarded through line 8l. By introducing the 'oleflnic complex-forming hydrocarbons through line 62 it is possible to re- 88 and 2l to' tower 26. Similarly, the complex in the base of tower 26 may be discarded through line 8l or it may be passed by pump 88 through lines 88 and 20 to tower i9.

In Figure 2 the drawings have been simplified by showing only a single conversion tower but here again it should be understood that any 'number of such towers may be employed. The distinguishing feature of the system illustrated by Figure 2 is the elimination of settling or separation chambers between the conversion zone and thehydrogen chloride stripper and the introduction of the complex-forming hydrocarbon into the elliuent product stream entering the stripper or into such stream which has already been introduced into the stripper. Thus the complexforming hydrocarbon from line 58 may becommingled with the effluent product stream from li'ne 2d (which will be provided with a suitable reducing valve, if necessary, to bring thepressure downto at least about 300 to 350 pounds per square inch) The combined stream may be introduced-through line 9! into hydrogen chloride stripper 42. On the other hand the eluent product stream may beintroduced into the stripper through lines 2t and 9i and the complex-forming stream may be introduced through line S2 to a lower point in the stripper. The high temperatures and the removal of hydrogen in the stripper are both conduciveto complex formation and substantially all of the carry-over aluminum -chloride is thus converted into complex before it 'the isomerization reaction, this settled complex from line 95 may be introduced through line @l and line 20 back to tower I9. On the other hand, if the complex-forming hydrocarbon is olenic or otherwise of such nature that theresultlng com- `plex is not suitable for isomerizationthen the complex may be withdrawn from the system through line 9d.

After settling out complex from'settler 962 the product stream is neutralized with caustic, water washed and fractionated. It shouldy be under stood'that suitable packing material may-be employed in settler Ql, that a plurality of such settlers or separation chambers may be employed in series or in parallel and that other known means may be employed for separating the newly formed complex from the eflluent product stream.

While the invention has been described in connection with a particularaluminum halide conversion system, isomerization of light naphtha with aluminum chloride-hydrocarbon complex catalyst, it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable to the isomerization of other hydrocarbons, such as butane, pentane, etc. to the use -of aluminum bromides aswell asaluminum chlorides and equivalent complex-forming catalyst material,'and to such processes as alkylation, disproportlonation, cracking, polymerization, or, in fact, any aluminum halide conversion system wherein catalyst carry-over constitutes Aa serious problem.

The complex-forming material (feed B) is preferably a hydrocarbon of the type hereinabove described but it should be understood that other complex-forming materials may be used instead of or in addition to hydrocarbons. llitrobenzene,

for example, forms complexes with aluminum chloride and small amounts of nitrobenzene may thus be introduced through line 58 for effecting the aluminum chloride clean-up in the effluent product stream. In fact there-may be a considl erable number of chemical compounds particularly lsubstituted hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, esters, ethers, etc. which have the property of forming readily separable complex with such carry-over aluminum chloride and which at the same time will not produce too serious a problem with regard to separation of such added material as may be dissolved in product streams. The particularadvantageof using hydrocarbons as complex-forming materials is that such hydrocarbons may be converted into more valuable forms or rendered suitable for isomerization charging stock in a recycle stream. The particular examples hereinabove set forth are by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. Various other operating conditions sequences of steps, modifications and alternatives, etc. will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description.

We claim:

l. In an aluminum halide hydrocarbon conversionsystem wherein a liquid :product effluent stream from a conversion zone contains a hydrogen halide and substantial amounts of uncombined aluminum halide, the method of operation which comprises introducing into said effluent stream a normally liquid complex-forming hydrocarbon which is substantially free from olev ns and which will react with said uncombined conversion system wherein a hydrocarbon is contacted with aluminum halide catalyst in the presence of a hydrogen halide activator in a conversion zone and an eiiluent productstream from the` y conversion zone is subsequently passed through a hydrogen halide stripper before being neutralized and fractionated and wherein said efiluent product stream contains carry-over aluminum halide, the method of operation which comprises commingling a normally liquid complex forming hydrocarbon which is substantially free from oleflns with said effluent product stream before said stream leaves said hydrogen halide stripper, effecting complex formation by reaction of said carry-over aluminum halide and. said complexforming hydrocarbon in the presence of said hydrogen halide activator, and separating said complex from said eiiiuent product stream.

4. The method oi.' claim 3 wherein the complex separation is effected before'said streamenters said stripper.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the complex separation is effected after said stream leaves said stripper.

6. The method of claim 3 which includes the step of passing said effluent stream through a high temperature settling zone at a temperature in low temperature settling zone at a temperature not substantialy higher than 100 F. before it enters said stripper and wherein complex formation is effected in said low temperature settling Zone.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the conversion zone is maintained under a substantial hydrogen pressure and which includes the steps of reducing -the pressure of said eiiiuent product stream and removing hydrogenv therefrom and wherein complex formation is eiected with carryover catalyst in said eilluent product stream under said reduced hydrogen pressure conditions.

9.- In a catalytic aluminum chloride light naphtha isomerization system wherein a light naphtha fraction is contacted with an aluminum chloride catalyst in the presence of a hydrogen chloride activator in a conversion zone under substantial' superatmospheric hydrogen pressure and the efiluentproduct stream from the conversion zone is subsequently passed through a hydrogen chloride'stripper before loeingl neutralized and fractionated and wherein said eiiluent product stream contains carry-over aluminum chloride, the method oi' operation which comprises introducing a normally liquid complex-forming hydrocarbon substantially free from oleiins into said eiliu- 'ent product stream before said stream leaves said hydrogen chloride stripper, effecting complex formation by reaction of said carry-over alumi-v arated complex is introduced into said conversion zone.

uct from complex in a settling zone above said' complex column and returning separated complex directly to said column, withdrawing liquid product fromv the isomerization zone after said complex separation step said product stream containing carry-over aluminum chloride catalyst material, introducing' said liquid product into a large settling zone,.contacting said liquid product in said settling zone with a normally liquid complex-forming hydrocarbon and allowing sufficient residence time in said settling zone to permit; reaction of said complex-forming hydrocarbon with carry-over aluminum chloride .contained inthe product stream, separating the resultingcomplex from the product stream, stripping .hydrogen chloride from said stream, neutralizing said stream after the stripping step and fractionating said stream after .the neutralizing step to separate a product isomer fraction from higher boiling` and lowerboiling fractions. A

13. Themethod of claim..12 which step of separating the resulting complex from the product stream after the contacting step-by passing the product stream as a liquid through a sep.

. 4o 11.- The method of claim 9 wherein said sep-V aration zone in lcontact withy anon-adsorptive contacting material comprising a permeable mass containing large agglomerating surfaces.

MACKL SUTTON. CECIL' W. NYSEW ANDER.

includes the 

